Political observers view Gilani’s effort as an ad-hoc arrangement to remain in power. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

QUETTA:

Despite the Army supporting Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s latest initiative to start dialogue with the armed resistance of Balochistan, experts believe the effort is bound to fail, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Even moderate Baloch political leaders who have been advocating a negotiated settlement of the Baloch crisis refuse to accept the idea of holding talks, said a professor of the Balochistan University, on condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Gilani’s initiative came on Wednesday when he informed a gathering in Islamabad that he had asked the governor and chief minister of Balochistan to engage the “annoyed” Baloch leaders in political dialogue.

Islamabad has always described the Baloch armed resistance as “upset” or “annoyed” in order to lessen the gravity of the decades-old conflict.

The prime minister’s decision appears to be backed by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who last week in Quetta, while praising the “patriotism” of the Baloch, said that the Army was willing to extend support to the civilian government in case it decides to hold talks with the Baloch Naitonalists, said a source familiar with the matter.

“The Army cannot hold direct talks with the annoyed Baloch leaders in the presence of a democratic government,” Kayani had said, adding, that the Army would however, support the civil government if it were to hold talks with the Baloch leaders.

In a related development, President Asif Ali Zardari summoned provincial Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani along with his cabinet ministers to Islamabad next week for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the Balochistan issue.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) sources, President Zardari also summoned Interior Minister Rehman Malik and heads of national security organisations for the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Baloch National Party (BNP) and National Party leaders during a joint meeting in Quetta on Thursday announced that they would launch a struggle against the killings of Baloch activists and take a stand against what they feel is the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources by the federal government.

Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini who took command of the BNP after party chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal went into exile also rejected Gen Kayani’s claim that the Army and intelligence agencies were not involved in the kill-and-dump operation targeting Baloch political activists.

Political observers in Quetta view the prime minister’s initiative as an ad-hoc arrangement to remain in power.

The Indian factor

Army officers posted at the Chamalang coal mines in the Marri tribal area are convinced that the Baloch armed resistance is backed by India.

Colonel Adil told The Express Tribune that Marri and other Baloch militants were being supplied with arms and ammunition by India via Afghanistan. “We have undeniable evidence that India is funding the Baloch insurgency since the last few years,” said Col Adil.

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Reader Comments (8)

“We have undeniable evidence that India is funding the Baloch insurgency since the last few years,” said Col Adil.

If you have the evidence then why is it not being used in the court of global public opinion? Its criminal that they are allowing people to die, and then sitting on the evidence. Or as Mr. Rehman Malik famously said, the evidence will be presented at a “suitable” time.

That said, whether the insurgency is being fueled by Indian support is irrelevant. Why do Pakisani citizens need to turn to foreign support to begin with? What are the grievances? The “Indian factor” is a convenient excuse not to deal with the causes of the grievances. Pretty much the same accusations we make to the US when we say that they are not dealing with the grievances of the Muslim world.

Actually we should not upgrade our problems frist try deal the problem at the local level
and if it is not possible the upgrade to provincial level and then to national level and then
to regional level and finaly to international level. There are lots of tribes in balochistan and to whom you will negotiate

The enemy has been identified. It hasn’t got anything to do with the development of Balochistan. It is India. It is time all the troops were pulled out of Balochistan and all resources directed to an all-out war with India. That will solve all of our problems.

@Ali Akbar Khan:
Sabre rattling is not sensible. War causes loss and suffering. The stench of blood and cries of the wounded donot reach the chambers of the politicians. Casualties happen on both sides. Nothing is achieved eventually. The businessmen selling their weapons open their shop [dukaan] and all money will be diverted to them, their bank accounts swell,while our people suffer!

The Baluch ethnicity consists of Sistan Province of Iran; Baluchistan; and Helmand province of Afghanistan. Durand Line and ethnic clashes with Iran are culmination of it. The area was suzerainty of British India with self rule. The non-violent struggle of Khan Abdul Gaffaar Khan (popularly known as Badshah Khan or Sarhadi Gandhi) against the British Rule in India is well known. How can we forget his social activism, ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’ movement and reforming Pushtuns? Though, Islamic identity brought the landlords’ of this region closure to Pakistan, however, they never accepted accession to Pakistan. Whether my brothers in Pakistan admit or deny this fact. The situation was strikingly similar or even worst to J&K’s accession to India. Baluchistan’s insurgency is due to its distinct culture and ethnicity and in J&K it is religious fervor.

The history of this region is full of social uprisings and full arms conflicts with Islamabad rule. First in 1948 led by Prince Abdul Karm Khan; Second in 1958 by Nawab Nowroz Khan; Third in 1963-69 by Sher Mohammad Bijarani Marri; Fourth in 1973-77 by Nawab Khair Baksh Marri and Fifth which is continuing since last one decade as the story admits. Plebiscite or demand for independence in Baluchistan is purely indigenous where as in J&K, it is a sponsored one. The historic expressions of it in India are interpreted and projected by our brothers across the border as support to insurgency which is not true. Please also read the facts of Turbat Killings and the uprising of Khan of Kalat Mir Suleiman Dawood. The facts are stark and clear that the areas of Baluchistan, K-P, G-B, PHK are even today run by Pakistan as its suzerainties. Though, we pray almighty for social calm in these areas, I am not sure how long Baloch or all other suzerainties of Pakistan will remain subservient to Punjab and Sind?